MAID SAMA

Kaichou wa Maid-sama is yet another show I went into blind. I think that’s the best way to go into some shows to avoid sounding like a manga elitist at times but that’s not the point here. I will admit that at first this didn’t sound all that good. Given the content of most anime/manga that involves maids it could have turned out in a few ones. One way, of course, being a total fan-service fest and another turning out to be one of those smutty shoujo-er josei series. Thankfully it avoids both of those possibilities and turns out to be very likable. Misaki was pretty much the make or break element of this show for me and I was relieved to see that she is a very likable character. Her circumstances may not be original but the way she handles them are admirable. Usui also isn’t as bad as I thought he would be so it looks like I won’t be rolling my eyes each time he appears or opens his mouth.
Additionally, Misaki and Usui’s chemistry feels rather natural even if it is more or less subtle at the moment but that will no doubt change as the series progresses. I’m really loving how Misaki freaks out at Usui’s every action and never failed to laugh when he plays his mind games on her. Their little sparkling moment near the end of the episode is the kind of stuff that makes me smile when executed without a hitch. We probably won’t see Misaki being so vulnerable all the time so I’m looking forward to seeing it as many times as possible before it ends. That said I’m really curious about both Misaki and Usui’s pasts. Misaki’s has been mentioned already but I think it may be looked into a bit more later, especially if the deadbeat dad returns. Usui’s is a mystery at the moment but the ED sequence seem to indicate that he will have one.
The animation wasn’t really what I’ve come to expect from J.C Staff but it’s not bad either. It’s ‘just right’ in other words and I hope it stays consistent. The SD usage is well done too. The art style is classic shoujo and I really Misaki’s design. Her attractiveness really skyrockets when she’s in her maid uniform and easily trumps any of the other female characters shown so far (except for her mom, they’re equal). I didn’t really think much of the OP and ED themes. They’re okay but nothing to scream about and the same can be said for the sequences themselves. Overall though, Kaichou wa Maid-sama is a pretty good shoujo romance comedy that isn’t funny because it’s taking itself too seriously. The characters introduced so far are very likable and there’s potential for it to become a favorite of mine. Like B Gata H Kei I’m going to continue watching this one to completion.